Relatives of 21 people killed in the Birmingham pub bombings have called on the bombers to come forward after a coroner ordered fresh inquests into the deaths of 21 people killed in the blasts.

The sister of one victim of the double bombing said the IRA bombers who have never been caught should “do the right thing” after inquests were announced that may pave the way for new criminal prosecutions.

Watch | Investigation relaunched into Birmingham bombings

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Birmingham’s coroner said police apparently failed to act on tip-offs terrorists were to bomb the two pubs, a coroner has said, with no indication officers took action to head off what became one of the most notorious attacks of The Troubles.

Six Irish men, known as the Birmingham Six, later spent 16 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of the attacks, in what is considered one of Britain’s worst miscarriages of justice. The real bombers were never caught.

Julie Hambleton, sister of Maxine HambletonCredit:
PA

Louise Hunt ordered new inquests into the killings after what she called “significant” new evidence about the blasts in crowded pubs on November 21, 1974.

Ms Hunt said there was evidence West Midlands Police had missed two potential warnings, including a comment made by men linked to the IRA that "Birmingham would be hit next week".

The overheard conversation was reported to police on November 10 1974, but Ms Hunt said there was "no indication that the police took any active steps in response to it".

A second tip-off to the police was not followed up on the day of the attack on the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs, she added.

Ms Hunt went on: "I have serious concerns that advanced notice of the bombs may have been available to the police and that they failed to take the necessary steps to protect life."

The Birmingham Six were wrongly jailed for the bombings and freed in 1991 after serving 16 years in prisonCredit:
Paul Grover

Concluding, she said: "This is specifically in respect of the two matters I have identified.

"It is only in respect of that issue that I consider there is sufficient reason to resume an inquest to investigate the circumstances of these deaths.”

Families of the dead welcomed the fresh investigation after years of campaigning to reopen inquests that were suspended in 1975 after being overtaken by the criminal inquiry.

Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was killed, called on the bombers cowards and called on them to come forward.

She said: “Do the right thing. If you have any level of humanity and any moral compass then by rights you should come forward."

She went on: “They ran away like cowards and have been hiding in full daylight, amongst their fellow citizens in Ireland apparently with their freedom, while our loved ones are dead and buried."

The bombings killed 21Credit:
PA

She added: "We're not going to allow them to die in vain, we're going to fight to find out the truth and bring some level of justice and accountability to light.

"Because what sort of a society are we leaving for future generations, where we allow mass murderers to walk free."

"So I am satisfied that the inquest should be resumed."

The actual bombers are alleged to have fled to Ireland, where at least two are thought to remain alive. A 1990 ITV documentary named four of what it alleged was a five man team linked to the bombings, including Seamus McLoughlin, Mick Murray and James Francis Gavin, who have all since died.

A former IRA intelligence director said there was no prospect of convictions.

Kieran Conway said: “I don't view IRA volunteers as murderers; I view them as people who participated in a just war."

He said there was "no prospect of convictions" because there was "simply no evidence" and it would be very hard to extradite individuals to the UK from Dublin.

"The only way that there could be convictions for the Birmingham bombs would be if one or more of the bombers were to present themselves to the UK police station and make full confessions. I don't believe that will happen."